Box-cover fastener.



J. H. SOWER & J. T. RICHARDS.

BOX COVER PASTENER.

A-PIPLIOATION FILED DEC. 7, 1909 958,022. Patented May 17, 1910.

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c0 PHOTO-UTHDGMPMERS,WASHINGTON n a the body of a box equipped with the com-- JAMES HENRY SOWER AND JOHN TYLER RICHARDS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BOX-COVER FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May I7, 1910.

Application filed December 7, 1909. Serial No. 531,817.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES H. Sownn and JOHN T. RICHARDS, citizens of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Cover Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a device for use in connection with boxes or crates, whereby the lid of the box or crate may be locked to the box in such a manner that it will be impossible to remove the same without materially injuring or destroying the lid or the box.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of the above character, which will be simple in construction, easy to apply to a box, and cheap to manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in whichlike numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lid of a box equipped with a part of our device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of panion part of our device. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the box, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a box equipped with our device.

In the drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated, l designates a part of our device comprising a rectangular body portion 2 upon one longitudinal edge of which are formed a plurality of teeth 3, which are at substantially right angles to the body portion 2. The opposite longitudinal edge of the body portion 2 is provided with a plurality of spaced ears 4, each of which is provided at its middle with a rectangular opening 5. The cars 4 are arranged at substantially right angles to the body portion 2 and are integral therewith. The teeth 3 and ears 4 may be formed with the body portion 2 by stamping the same out of sheet-metal and then bending the teeth 3 and ears 4 at a desired angle. It is to be understood that the ears 2 are resilient and are capable of slight lateral movements, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The companion part of our device comprises a rectangular body portion 6, corresponding in dimensions to the body portion 2, and provided with a plurality of spaced triangular tongues 7 adapted to register with the openings 5. The body portion 6 is preferably formed of sheet-metal and the ears 7 are stamped upon the same and bent inwardly at substantially right angles to the body portion 6, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Each of the triangular tongues 7 is provided with a sloping side 8 and a substantially horizontal end 9.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a common manner of securely fastening the sides of a box to their corresponding ends, whereby the same cannot be removed from each other without the destruction of the box. For the sake of illustration we have shown our device as applied to a box of this character having its ends dove-tailed as illustrated in Fig. 8. In the application of our device, a part 1 is arranged transversely of and upon the lower side of the lid near each end of the same. Each of the parts 1 is secured to the lid by means of screws, rivets or bolts 10, which pass through openings in the body portion 2 and are driven into the lower surface of the lid or when rivets are used the same are clenched through the lid. One of the companion parts of the device is secured upon the inner side of each of the ends of the box, so that the same are flush with the upper edge of the end of said box. Each of the companion parts is secured to the end of the box by means of screws or rivets 1.0 or the like which pass through the body portion 6 and are driven into the inner surface of the end or riveted through the end. Then the lid and ends are thus equipped with our device, the lid is placed upon the box and pressed down upon the same. The inclined sides 8 of the tongues 7 will bend the ears 4 inwardly, until said tongues 7 register with the openings 5, when the same will fit within the openings and the ears 4 will spring back to their normal vertical positions, as illustrated in Fig. 4. By reference to Fig. 4 it is seen that each of the tongues 7 is extended within a corresponding opening 4, and it will thus be impossible to move the lid of the box vertically. As shown in Fig. 4, the part 1 of the device is secured to the lid at such a distance from its end that the teeth 3 engage the middle portion of the upper edge of the end of the box. When the teeth 3 are thus forced into the end of the box, it is obvious that the same will prevent the longitudinal displacement of the lid. From the foregoing description 'it is obvious that We provide a device which same, and that minor changes in the shape,

size and form of our invention may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the same.

Having fully described our invention, we

1. The combination with the lid and end of a boX, of a plate suitably secured to said lid and provided With a plurality of apertured ears, a plate suitably secured to said .end and provided with a plurality of tongues for interlocking with said apertured ears,

and a plurality of teeth connected to said first named plate for engagement with said end.

2. The combination with the lid and end of a box, of a plate suitably secured to the end of said lid and provided upon one of its longitudinal edges with a plurality of apertured ears, said plate being provided upon the other longitudinal edge with a plurality of teeth, a second plate suitably secured to said end and provided with a plurality of substantially triangular tongues adapted to interlock with said ears, and said teeth being arranged to engage approximately the central longitudinal axis of the upper edge of said end.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HENRY SOlVER.

JOHN TYLER RICHARDS. Witnesses T. B. NEWMAN, J. F. SULLIVAN. 

